Proposed Poquoson budget has tax, fee hikes

April 09, 2012|By Amanda Kerr, akerr@dailypress.com | 757-247-4733

POQUOSON – Poquoson City Council Monday night will get its first look at City Manager Randy Wheeler's proposed 2013 budget which includes several fee increases and increases in the city's cigarette tax and meals tax.

The city's general fund or operating fund is proposed to remain the same as the current budget at $24.3 million. No major cuts to staff or personnel are proposed. The budget does not include a pay raise for city employees and the only change in personnel is making a part-time police officer position full-time as part of the city's involvement with a regional drug task force.

There is no proposed increase in the city's real estate tax of 92 cents per $100 of assessed value. Wheeler is proposing to reduce the city's boat tax by 15 cents from $1.50 to $1.35. Wheeler said with ongoing marina projects at the Poquoson Marina and Messick Point Marina he anticipates more boats docking in the city, growing the tax base for boats. The reduction in the boat tax, he said, is aimed at being revenue neutral based on growth projections. The city's cigarette tax is proposed to increase by 15 cents and the meals tax is proposed to increase by half a percent.

The city's solid waste fee is also proposed to increase by 15 percent which equals an increase in bi-monthly fees ranging from $1-$10.50 depending on the level of service citizens have. A proposed increase in the sewer fee would raise the bi-monthly rate from $50 to $62.

Wheeler will present his proposed budget to City Council during a meeting Monday night. Poquoson City Council will meet at 7 p.m. on in City Hall at 500 City Hall Ave., Poquoson.